Sparsh Khandelwal is a dynamic first-generation entrepreneur and the visionary behind Stylework, India’s fastest-growing B2B SaaS flex workspace platform. A graduate in Computer Science from JSS Academy of Technical Education, Noida, Sparsh founded his first venture, Cubes, at the age of 19. He recognized the potential of shared economies and coworking spaces and developed an innovative platform to bridge the gap between demand and fragmented supply. Today, Stylework is India’s leading coworking space aggregator, valued at Rs 200 crore. Sparsh’s leadership has earned him accolades, including the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ award and widespread recognition in top media outlets.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian he said, “ As urban centers become increasingly crowded, traditional work environments face challenges, giving rise to flexible workspaces that adapt to modern needs’.
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Q1. What are the key differences between the Flexboard Basic and Flexboard Pro plans, and how do these enhancements benefit HR teams?
Ans: FlexBoard is an all-in-one solution for optimizing a hybrid workspace environment and management. This hybrid workplace management tool is accessible as a mobile app for easy workforce check-in, walk-to-work for business, and hybrid management. Flexboard PRO is an enhanced version of Flexboard Basic. With Flexboard PRO, one can manage up to 1,000 employees and create up to 50 rosters, whereas the Basic version supports only up to 200 employees and 10 rosters.
Q. How is Flexboard transforming HR workflows and software integration in the context of a hybrid workplace?
Ans: FlexBoard seamlessly integrates with a wide range of HR management systems by linking your HRMS with FlexBoard, employee details such as names, titles, and locations are automatically imported, minimizing manual data entry. This integration simplifies the process for administrators, making it easier to book, assign, and manage coworking spaces for remote teams. This hybrid workplace management tool is available as a mobile app, making it easy to check in the workforce, consolidate invoicing, and manage budgets.
Q. What role do flexible workspaces play in addressing the workspace needs of a growing population, especially in tier 1, 2, and 3 cities?
Ans: In today’s rapidly evolving workspace sector, flexible workspaces are emerging as key trendsetters. As urban centers become increasingly crowded, traditional work environments face challenges, giving rise to flexible workspaces that adapt to modern needs. These spaces support diverse schedules and remote work, catering to the growing demand for agility and sustainability. Businesses benefit from reduced costs and environmental impact, while employees gain opportunities for remote and flexible work.
With metropolitan, tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 cities emerging as the hubs of dynamic workspace solutions, businesses are gravitating towards establishing sustainable working systems. These upcoming sustainable systems of working are allowing new-age professionals to explore newer opportunities and build remote careers. Moreover, with this growth of flexible workspaces in tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, individuals won’t have to migrate to metropolitan cities and can find opportunities in their immediate work pool.
Q. Can you share the Q2 statistics that highlight the evolution of co-working spaces across different city tiers? How does Flexboard fit into this trend?
Ans: In Q2 2024, the co-working space sector in India has shown impressive growth across different city tiers.
In Tier 1 cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, we have seen a 15% increase in new co-working facilities compared to the previous quarter. Occupancy rates in these major cities have stabilized at a strong 85-90%, fueled by heightened demand from startups, SMEs, and large enterprises seeking flexible office solutions.
Moving to Tier 2 cities, including Pune, Ahmedabad, and Chennai, there has been a notable 25% rise in co-working spaces. This growth reflects a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit and the expansion of mid-sized businesses. Occupancy rates here are steadily climbing to around 70-75%.
In Tier 3 cities such as Coimbatore, Jaipur, and Indore, we are witnessing a remarkable 35% growth in co-working spaces. This surge indicates an increasing preference for flexible workspaces among local businesses and remote workers looking for cost-effective solutions. Occupancy rates in these cities are currently around 60-65%, emphasizing affordability and convenience.
Q. As HR departments increasingly rely on various software tools, how does Flexboard ensure seamless integration and efficient management of these systems?
Ans: Flexboard addresses the growing reliance of HR departments on diverse software tools by offering robust integration capabilities. It seamlessly connects with a wide range of HR management systems, allowing for the automatic import of employee data such as names, titles, and locations. This integration minimizes manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors and saving valuable time. Additionally, Flexboard’s user-friendly interface facilitates efficient management of coworking spaces and workforce scheduling, ensuring that HR departments can effortlessly coordinate with their existing systems and maintain smooth operations. This approach ensures that Flexboard enhances rather than disrupts the existing software ecosystem within an organization.
Q. What are the future expansion plans for Flexboard, and how do they align with the current trends in flexible workspaces?
Ans: Flexboard is strategically positioned to leverage the current trends in the co-working sector;
Comprehensive Coverage: Flexboard excels in integrating co-working spaces across all city tiers. It offers enhanced visibility and real-time inventory management, meeting the diverse needs of enterprises. This includes managing multiple office locations, hybrid working arrangements with day pass bookings, meeting and conference room bundles, and employee roster management.
Optimized Space Management: The platform provides a streamlined solution for enterprises and startups, facilitating efficient booking and management of flexible office spaces. It caters to the growing demand for co-working and managed office solutions across various city tiers.
Enhanced User Experience: Flexboard features are tailored to improve both B2C and B2B interactions. It addresses the need for a unified, user-friendly platform that supports dynamic workspace requirements and maximizes space utilization.
As the co-working sector continues to expand across India, Flexboard plays a crucial role in supporting this growth, ensuring effective space management and an enhanced user experience in a rapidly changing market.
Q. How does Flexboard’s SaaS platform stand out as the only brand offering such comprehensive hybrid management solutions for HR teams?
Ans: As India’s sole provider in this model, we’ve pioneered hybrid workspace solutions, successfully guiding enterprises in adopting and optimizing hybrid work arrangements as the industry’s first mover.
Q. With the introduction of Flexboard Pro, how are the advanced features, such as live chat support and automated visit approvals, improving HR operations?
Ans: The introduction of Flexboard Pro enhances HR operations by incorporating advanced features like live chat support and automated visit approvals. Live chat support ensures real-time assistance, streamlining communication, while automated visit approvals simplify and speed up the approval process. These features collectively improve efficiency, reduce administrative workload, and facilitate smoother management of workspace operations.